Centrifugal amusement device.



H. N. RIDGWAY.

GENTBIIUGAL AMUSEMENT DEVICE. APPLI'oA'rIoN Hun 11u23, 190s.

933,585. Patented sepm, 1909.

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l H. N. RIDGWAY.

GENTRIFUGAL AMUSBMBNT DEVICE.

I APPLIOATION FILED MAY 23, 1908. 933,585. Patented septk 7, 1909.

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unirsi) STATES PATENT- ormoni.

HERBERT N. RIDGWAY, 0F WINTHROP, MASSACHUSETTS.

CENTRIFUGAL AIVIU'SEMENT DEVICE.

Application filed May 23, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT N. RIDGWAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at l/Vinthrop, county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Centrifugal Amusement Devices, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to a centrifugal amusement device of that class wherein a rotary platform is employed on which per-A sons are adapted to be received and which is rotated with suflicient speed to force the persons thereon outward radially by centrifugal action.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a centrifugal amusement device of this class with a chute or chutes leading thereto so that persons may slide down the chute onto the platform from which they are then forced by centrifugal action.

In the drawings wherein I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention Figure 1 is a side elevation thereof with the rotary platform shown in section; Fig. 2 is a top plan view; Fig. 3 is a section on the line m-oo, Fig. 1.

The rotary platform is designated by 3 and it may be constructed in any suitable way so that it will have a smooth upper surface. This platform is herein shown as being horizontally arranged and it has the central vertical shaft 4 forming the axis about which it rotates, said shaft being supported in suitable bearings 5. The outer periphery of the platform is preferably provided on its under side with a track 6 which rests on supporting rolls 7 The platform may be rotated by any suitable means and as one convenient device for rotating it, I have shown a driving gear 8 secured to the shaft 4 and meshing Awith and driven by a gear 9 on a power shaft 10, said power shaft extending to and being operated by a suitable motor or other driving mechanism (not shown). If desired the platform may also be provided with an inner track 11 which rests on and is supported by a plurality of supporting rolls 12.

Surrounding the platform 3 is a receiving platform 13 adapted to receive the persons expelled from the rotary platform by cen-- trifugal action. I will preferably place the receiving platform 13 below the level of the Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 7, 1909.

Serial No. 434,467.

platform 3 and provide the inclined way 14 intermediate said two platforms so that persons expelled from the platform 3 will slide down the way 14 onto the receiving platform 13. The way 14 extends clear around the platform 3.

My present invention relates particularly to the manner of delivering the persons to the rotary platform 3. I accomplish this by means of one or more chutes which are sit uated above the rotary platform and down which persons may slide from a higher altitude to the platform 3. It is within my invention to use any number of chutes and to place them in any desired position and give to them any desired shape, but I have herein shown two chutes which are arranged to deliver the persons sliding down them to the central portion of the platform 3. The chutes herein shown each have the straight portion 15 and a spiral portion 16. The spiral portion of each chute is arranged directly over the central portion of the platform, and the straight portions 15 are arranged radially. The chutes have a trough shape in cross section, each having a bottom 17 and sides 18 so that persons sliding down them will be prevented from sliding 0E the sides of the chutes by the sides 18. At the upper ends of the chutes I will preferably arrange balconies 19 which may be reached by elevators or stairways (not shown). chutes are stationary and they may be supported in any suitable way. As one convenient way I have shown the spiral portions 16 of them as being secured to and sustained by a central suspender 21 which is secured to and suspended from some overhead support, as at 22. This suspender has a recess or socket in its lowerl end into which the upper end of the shaft 4 is received, as shown in Fig. 1, said suspender thus acting to steady the upper end of the shaft.

I will preferably make the central portion of the platform 3 substantially conical shape, as shown at 23, so that when persons are ejected from the lower end of the chutes they slide down the conical surface 23 of the platform out onto the iiat surface of the body of the platform, from which they are expelled by centrifugal force. The lower ends 41 of the chutes are shaped as shown in Fig. 3 so as to deliver persons sliding down the chutes onto the conical portion 23 of the rotary platform without danger of inj ury.

The

42 is a radial wall or partition situated at the bottom of each chute to guide the persons properly onto the rotary platform. The arrows in Fig. 3 show the direction of movement of the platform and the persons descending the chute.

A person who wishesto use the apparatus ascends to the platform or balcony 19 and then seats himself in the upper end 15 of the chute. The person slides down the portion 15 of the chute and enters the spiral portion 16 thereof, and will slide down the latter and emerge from the lower end of the chute onto the conical surface 23 of the platform. The momentum with which he emerges from the chute together with the centrifugal force caused by the rotating platform 3 will cause the person to be expelled from said platform onto the receiving platform 13.

Great amusement and pleasure is afforded by my'apparatus not only tothe person or persons who use the apparatus, but also to the spectators watching the performance.

rIhe particular construction herein illustrated of platform or of chute is not essential to the invention and therefore many changes may be made in the parts without departingfrom the invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as'new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is Y l. In an amusement apparatus, the combination with a rotary platform free from obstruction at its outer edge, of means to rotate the platform, a receiving platform surrounding the rotary platform and adapted to reeeivepersons expelled from the rotary platform, and a stationary chute leading to the central portion of the rotary platform.

2. In an amusement apparatus, the com- Vceiving platform surrounding the rotary platform and adapted to receive persons expelled from the rotary platform, and a sta- Y to the central portion thereof. i

3. In an amusement apparatus, the comi bination with a platform and means whereby the platform may be rotated with suiiicient speed to expel persons therefrom by centrifugal force, of two oppositely-disposed chutes leading tothe central portion of the platform.

4. In an amusement apparatus, the combination with a rotary platform, of means whereby said platform may be rotated, a re-` ceiving platform surrounding the rotary platform and adapted to receive persons expelled therefrom, said rotary platform having a raised central portion, and a stationary chute situated above the rotary platform and leading to the raised central portion thereof.

5. In an amusement apparatus, the com-V bination with a rotary platform, of means whereby said platform may be rotated, a

receiving platform surrounding the rotary platform and adapted to receive persons'ex- Y pelled therefrom,l said rotary-platform having a raised central portion, and a stationary chute having a spiral portion situated above the rotary platform and leading to the central portion thereof.

6. The combination of a helical slideway, a discharge platform arranged at the terminus of the slideway, and a terminal platform having an inclined portion contiguousYY to and surrounding the discharge platform.V

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name'to this specificati-on, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERBERT N. RIDGWAY. lVitnesses:

LOUIS C. SMITH, THOMAS J. DRUMMOND. 

